The Documentary Podcast

In January a boat carrying migrants across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe was miraculously rescued by a fishing trawler after two weeks lost at sea. At least 20 people died from starvation, dehydration and hypothermia. Many of those on the boat - Pakistani men - were promised safe, legal routes to Europe by the smugglers but that was far from their reality. BBC Trending tracks the digital footprint of one of the suspected smugglers wanted for deaths on this very migrant boat. On TikTok, trivial videos depict his lifestyle - one of money, nice restaurants and a lot of travel. But these videos reveal much more about the smuggler’s operations. Presenter/producer: Reha Kansara and Shruti Menon Producer: Mohammad Zubair Khan

Galia Sofa, an Israeli woman who relocated to Cyprus with her family after the October 7th attacks, shares her compelling journey in search of safety. She discusses the rising trend of Israeli exodus prompted by political turbulence and escalating security fears. Galia highlights the vibrant Jewish community in Cyprus, revealing personal stories of resilience and cultural revival. The conversation also touches on the controversial luxury developments in northern Cyprus, shedding light on the socio-political complexities at play.

Madeleine Thien, a celebrated Canadian author known for her acclaimed novel 'Do Not Say We Have Nothing', shares her creative journey while crafting her new work, 'The Book of Records'. She candidly discusses the challenges of finding peace amidst public scrutiny and the significance of privacy in her writing process. From cafes in Berlin to the historical streets of Lisbon, Thien reveals how environment and personal experiences shape her characters, while also reflecting on life's lessons of failure, joy, and discovery in storytelling.

A bonus episode from Good Bad Billionaire - the award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service. You can find more episodes by searching for ‘Good Bad Billionaire’ wherever you get your BBC podcasts.Minecraft is the most successful computer game ever. It's sold 300 million copies, built an active community of fans and there's now even a Minecraft movie. So how did one man - Markus Persson - create it all by himself, before selling it for billions?BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng find out how a high school dropout, obsessed with Lego and gaming, became a computer game hero. The Swedish programmer, known by the nickname Notch, built a virtual 3D world where, with the help of a pickaxe, players could harness their creativity to build almost anything, one block at a time. Persson founded the video game development company Mojang Studios, before selling it to Microsoft, but then came a spectacular downfall.Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?

According to the World Health Organisation, 77% of Nigerian women have used skin-lightening creams. When BBC Hausa’s Madina Maishanu decided to look into this, she uncovered an even more worrying trend: mothers using potentially harmful products on their babies. Madina spoke to the campaigners trying to stop these practices. Plus, how human activities and climate change are threatening shea trees in Uganda with Njoroge Muigai from BBC Africa. Presented by Faranak Amidi Produced by Alice Gioia and Hannah Dean(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Mark Lowen in Rome brings people together to share their memories of the Pope, who died on Easter Monday. In our conversations, Mark hears from Catholics in Argentina, including one of Pope Francis’ friends who knew him when he was a priest in Buenos Aires. We also bring together three people from Northern Ireland who had a private audience with the Pope, and three women who describe how he changed their lives. Mark sits down with Iraqi-American Pilgrims in a café just outside the Vatican to chat about what the Pope meant to them.

A bonus episode from Dear Daughter - the award-winning podcast from the BBC World Service. You can find more episodes by searching for ‘Dear Daughter’ wherever you get your BBC podcasts.Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh joins Namulanta in the studio to share the letter she’s written to her three children. She tells them the importance of trusting their bodies and following their instincts - a life philosophy which has sometimes led her into some unexpected situations, especially while pregnant…Dear Daughter is a podcast all about love, life, family, and raising children. It is the brainchild of Namulanta Kombo, a mother on a quest to create a ‘handbook to life’ for her daughter, through the advice of parents from all over the world.Each episode, a guest reads a letter they’ve written to their children (or their future children, or the children they never had) with the advice, life lessons, and personal stories they’d like to pass on.Expect extraordinary true stories, inspirational advice for parents, and moving accounts of families, relationships and raising daughters.

Delve into the intriguing world of the Anastasia movement, a community with strong family values that’s taken root in Germany from Russia. Discover their eco-friendly façade that conceals deeper extremist ideologies, including racism and queerphobia. Hear personal accounts of migration and the cultural challenges faced by those seeking hope and connection. Explore tensions with local residents and concerns about far-right influences within the community, highlighting the importance of awareness and accountability in addressing extremism.

Dr. Kerry Fowler, a pioneer in seed preservation and global crop diversity for the UN, shares pivotal moments in the environmental movement. He recounts the impactful 1972 Stockholm conference that ignited international dialogue. The podcast highlights the establishment of the global seed vault, a vital step in protecting biodiversity. Listeners discover the alarming history of plastic pollution in oceans and grassroots initiatives like Isatou Sise's recycling project in Gambia, emphasizing the urgent call for change in addressing environmental challenges.

Paul Vallely, a writer and biographer of Pope Francis, delves into the transformative legacy of the late pope. He discusses Francis's push for greater inclusivity within the Church, especially regarding the LGBTQ+ community and divorced individuals. Vallely highlights the pope's focus on social justice and environmental advocacy, cementing the poor's place at the heart of the Church’s mission. The conversation also touches on the internal conflicts faced by Francis as he challenged long-held doctrines and aimed for a more compassionate Catholic Church.